Ocean Plastic Pollution

Ocean Plastic Pollution

Scientists estimate up to 90% of seabirds, like this Laysan albatross, have plastic in their stomachs.

The Plastic Pollution Cycle

Plastic is one of the most common materials in our daily lives. We eat and drink from it, buy stuff packaged in it, and even wear clothes made of it. But what happens when it’s no longer useful to us?

Since plastic doesn't break down naturally, things that had a useful life of just a few minutes can pollute our ocean for hundreds of years. Some plastic starts out tiny; others begin large, but slowly become smaller and smaller pieces. Plastic bags, cosmetic microbeads and other types of plastic trash have spread throughout the ocean—from the surface to the deepest submarine canyons. Plastic debris is also washing back onto our shores, leaving a mess for our children to clean up.

This makes plastic pollution a major threat to marine wildlife like fish, turtles, seabirds and whales. Not only do animals get tangled in plastic trash like six-pack rings, plastic bags and abandoned fishing nets; they also mistakenly fill their stomachs with plastic instead of food.

Plastic or food? The contents of this tube—which includes a lighter, disposable pencil, cigar tip, plastic bottle cap and fishing lure—came from the stomach of an albatross.

Plastic is made with toxic chemicals such as bisphenol-A, styrene and phthalates. Worse, plastic trash in the ocean acts like a sponge, soaking up pollutants and pesticides from the surrounding seawater. When marine animals eat plastic, they ingest these poisonous cocktails, too. The toxins can concentrate up the food chain and can even end up in the seafood on our plates.

Luckily, we can take action. By changing policies and our own habits, we can slow the flow of plastic pollution.

What You Can Do

With your help, we can make progress toward a plastic-free ocean.

Raise your voice

Urge decision-makers to help stem the flow.
Ask your elected representatives to reduce the sources of plastic pollution. Speak up for bans on single-use plastics.

Encourage waste reduction in your community.
Start a "blue team" to reduce single-use plastic at work. Spark a conversation about zero-waste living on social media. Organize a beach or park clean-up. Think creatively—the possibilities are endless!

Join Monterey Bay Aquarium

When you visit, become a member or donate, you support our work to reduce the sources of ocean plastic pollution. Together, we can make positive changes for the ocean and the animals that call it home—not just today, but for generations to come.

Consider the 5 R's

Plastic may seem convenient in the short term, but we can make more thoughtful choices for our planet's future. Here's how:

Rethink your consumption habits and their effects on the ocean.

Refuse single-use plastic you can do without.

Reuse bags, bottles and other products.

Repair things before you replace them.

Recycle what you can, and buy recycled products.

Join Monterey Bay Aquarium

When you visit, become a member or donate, you support our work to reduce the sources of ocean plastic pollution. Together, we can make positive changes for the ocean and the animals that call it home—not just today, but for generations to come.